Don't stress. Chill!
Stepping out with your camera shouldn’t be a stressful process. For me, primary goal is to enjoy the process rather than looking for an award winning shot.
Below are a few of my thoughts about the thing I focus on when I’m out and about.
Embrace the moment.
Step outside with an open mind and let go of any pressure to take the next award winning picture. You’ll find that after applying this idea, better images will follow. Try focusing on the experience itself, the fresh air, the sounds, the light etc.
Explore your surroundings.
Wander! Even if it’s somewhere you are familiar with. If you’re paying enough attention, I guarantee you will see something new. Equally, if there is somewhere further afield that you have always wanted to go, then go! Look for interesting details, patterns, textures and colours. Light and shadows.
Experiments and compositions.
My ‘go to’ is usually the rule of thirds, but I always try something creative, try different angles and perspectives. Different focal lengths. try looking for leading lines or lines of symmetry, or unique viewpoints.
Observe mindfully.
Slow down and observe. Notice how the light falls, the ripples of water, the way shadows dance. The details! Remember, photography is about seeing, not just capturing.
Appreciate imperfections.
Don’t worry if your photos aren’t perfect. Sometimes the beauty lies in the flaws. Something one of my old art teachers told me, which I’ve applied to my photography is; if you create something you don’t like, for whatever reason, keep it for one year then revisit it. Almost every time I have kept the image, or at most, a smell edit. Capture the mundane - the peeling paint on a fence, raindrops on a leaf.
Disconnect from technology.
Put your phone on silent or even leave it behind. Do any research beforehand, this leaves you to be present in the moment. Photography is a medium for connecting with the world and the environment around you, not just documenting it.
Find piece in the process.
Always try to let go of the stress and the expectations and enjoy the act of composing a shot. Relax, breathe and let your creativity flow. it wont happen from the first shot but it will happen.
So, with all that being said, remember the joy of photography lies not only in the final images but also in the journey of seeing and appreciating the world around you.
Happy shooting.